In the UK, it is estimated that 70 crops are dependent on, or benefit from, bees. The economic value of honey bees and bumble bees as pollinators of commercially grown insect-pollinated crops in the UK is approximately £220 million per year.

The UK has lost more than 3 million hectares of wildflower rich habitat since the Second World War, but farming wildlife schemes have only recreated 6,500 hectares.

In 2009, the Co-operative Group became the first UK retailer to prohibit the use of eight pesticides which have been implicated in honeybee colony collapse on its own brand produce.

Buglife (the Invertebrate Conservation Trust), along with 10 other wildlife charities, is lobbying the government to create B-lines, 'rivers of flowers' in every county in Britain. Some of its aims are to create or secure 150,700 hectares of permanent, flower-rich grassland and secure national pollination services worth £440 million annually. For more information, call 01733 201 210 or go to

The Garden & Leisure Group has chosen the Bumblebee Conservation Trust as its Charity of the Year, and is encouraging schools and communities to get involved. There are collection boxes for the charity in stores, along with easy-to-find bee-friendly seeds and plants and more information for bee lovers.

Buy Perrenials for a wildlife border, five plants (one of each) for £9.95, buy ten plants (two of each variety) for £14.90 or save a further £5 when you buy a bumper twenty plants (four of each variety) for £24.80.